Tragic Shooting at Brown University: Live Updates on Casualties and Campus Impact

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A tragic shooting at Brown University has left the campus community in shock after a gunman opened fire inside an engineering building on Saturday. The attack resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to at least nine others. Police swiftly responded, locking down the university and nearby areas well into the night.

In a major development, authorities have detained a person of interest in connection with the tragic shooting incident at Brown University.

Below is a live blog capturing the latest updates as the situation developed.

8:24 a.m. | University officials announced the suspension of all undergraduate, graduate, and medical classes, along with exams and projects, for the remainder of the Fall 2025 semester. Students have the option to leave campus if possible, while those who decide to remain will have access to campus services and support systems.

7 a.m. | During a morning press conference, officials confirmed the lifting of the shelter-in-place order for Brown University and the surrounding vicinity. They also stated that there will be an increased police presence on campus and throughout the city as a precautionary measure.

2:28 a.m. | Restarting the live blog for one more update that just came in. Brown President Christina Paxson has emailed the campus community with an update on the victims, all of whom were students: of the nine hospitalized, six remain in critical but stable condition, one is in critical condition, one is in stable condition, and one has been treated and released.

Paxson has reached out to the families of all the shooting victims. “No parent or family member should ever have to endure a day like this,” she wrote.

The shelter-in-place remains in effect, and evacuations from facilities that were locked down continue. Parents and families are being asked not to travel to Brown right now.

“Non-emergency staff who were scheduled for an overnight shift were informed to stand down and informed that they should not report to work for their shift while the shelter-in-place order remains in place,” she wrote. (Brown is one of the largest employers in Rhode Island.)

2:05 a.m. | Since officials have indicated no further announcements will be made in these overnight hours barring a major development, we are concluding today’s live blog. You can read our full recap of today’s events here. We will have the latest on air on Sunday’s 12 News This Morning at 6 a.m., and our 24-hour newsroom team will update online as events warrant.

12:39 a.m. | Here is a full article recapping today’s events. It will be updated further.

12:20 a.m. | With no more briefings scheduled for tonight, the pace of updates here on this live blog will be slowing down for now.

Saturday

11:58 p.m. | It has now been almost eight hours since the shooting at Brown was first reported. The number of victims remains two dead and nine injured; none have been identified. At least 10 of the 11, and possibly all 11, were students. The shooter is still on the loose, and only limited video of him has been discovered and publicized.

A shelter-in-place order continues for Brown University and its surrounding neighborhoods on the East Side of Providence, as officers make their way from building to building. At the same time, Providence officials are recommending that events scheduled for Sunday take place as scheduled, saying they know of no credible ongoing threats to public safety.

The FBI is taking a lead role in the investigation along with state and local law enforcement.

11:56 p.m. | Here is a phone interview earlier this evening with a Brown University student who was taking an exam in a different building at the time of the shooting. The student was still sheltering in place at the time of the interview.

11:50 p.m. | The map below, published by Brown, shows the perimeter around the campus that law enforcement had in place as of the top of this hour.

Brown’s alert accompanying this map said: “Individuals already in residential buildings within the perimeter should continue to shelter in place there. Police will enter all administrative (non-residential) buildings within the perimeter marked by the red boxes on the map to escort all individuals to safe locations outside of the perimeter. All individuals inside administrative buildings within the perimeter should continue to shelter in place until law enforcement officers arrive.”

The alert continued: “For all locations (inside and outside the perimeter), the shelter in place remains ongoing — unless escorted by a law enforcement officer, this means ensuring no movement across or near campus.”

11:45 p.m. | Here is full video of the briefing officials gave earlier this hour. Mayor Smiley says at this time they are not planning to hold another briefing unless there is significant news.

11:42 p.m. | Ocean State Media interviewed Rachel Friedberg, a Brown economics professor, who said the shooting happened in a review session for her course’s final exam.

“The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top,” she told the outlet. ““He said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something — he couldn’t remember what he yelled — and started shooting.” She also said, “Students started to scramble to try to get away from the shooter, trying to get lower down in the stadium seating, and people got shot. “I don’t know if they’re the only ones who got shot or not.”

11:38 p.m. | Officials wrapped up their third and final briefing of the day a short time ago. Mayor Smiley says they don’t plan to do another briefing in the coming hours unless there is major breaking news or other significant developments. We will post the video of the full briefing as soon as it processes.

11:21 p.m. | Col. Oscar Perez reiterated that there is a shelter in place so that officials can canvass the area, identifying suspects, stopping vehicles, and more. Once the area is safe, it will be lifted.

11:18 p.m. | Gov. Dan McKee gave a shoutout to the nurses and medical staff at the hospitals who are taking care of the nine victims. He also gave a shoutout to first responders in other municipalities who jumped in to help.

He added that the state pledges all of its resources to the city of Providence and are continuing to partner with the federal officials to ensure justice is served.

11:16 p.m. | Mayor Smiley said they don’t recommend the cancellation of events tomorrow morning in the city since they have not received any credible information that there is any specific ongoing threat from the suspect.

He said there will be an enhanced visible law enforcement presence out in the city.

11:14 p.m. | Mayor Smiley shares a new FBI website for tips and relevant information about the shooting: fbi.gov/brownuniversityshooting.

Providence police also released an updated designated tip line: (401) 652-5767.

11:01 p.m. | Governor McKee joined us live a little while ago for an update on the situation, including his conversation with the president. Here is the video.

10:51 p.m. | Providence authorities have just released this brief video they say shows the suspect leaving after this afternoon’s shooting at Brown.

10:40 p.m. | Officials are expected to give another briefing coming up at 11 p.m. As we know from earlier in the day, that timing could slip. We are also still awaiting release of the video showing the suspect leaving the building and will share it when we receive it.

Meantime, at the Brown campus, our Shiina LoSciuto reports seeing crowds of students outside the Nelson Fitness Center, where they are being transported as some buildings apparently come out of lockdown.

10:35 p.m. | Our Alexandra Leslie shares reports that a growing number of restaurants, bars and businesses have posted on social media that they are closing early for the evening, as the lockdown of Brown and its surrounding neighborhoods still hasn’t been lifted more than six hours after the shooting was first reported.

10:20 p.m. | At the moment everyone is waiting for the city to release video of the suspect walking away from the building, which Mayor Smiley said at the briefing was coming shortly. A city official tells me it will be distributed by email soon, and of course we will post it here.

10:17 p.m. | Here is the full video of the second briefing officials held, which ended about 20 minutes ago.

10:09 p.m. | As ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis points out on social media, lethal gun violence is relatively unusual in Providence and has been exceedingly unusual in 2025.

There have been only two homicides in the city this year prior to today, one in January and one in November, according to a tracker maintained by our Alexandra Leslie.

10:06 p.m. | Our Kim Kalunian reports from the scene that she is starting to see more people, “slowly but surely,” leave the buildings on and around Thayer Street who had been on lockdown near where the shooting took place. They are boarding RIPTA buses to depart.

10:00 p.m. | Officials expect to hold another briefing later tonight. A significant amount remains unknown based on the briefing just now, including the type of gun used. Authorities also think the suspect could be in his 30s, though they don’t know that for sure.

Trinity Repertory Company cancelled a performance this evening due to the situation, the arts facility has confirmed.

9:56 p.m. | The second briefing has concluded. We will post the full video here once it has processed.

9:55 p.m. | Here are two live reports from our reporters at Brown that aired earlier in the 9 o’clock hour, one from Shiina LoSciuto outside the Nelson Fitness Center where students are being brought, and one from Kim Kalunian who is on Thayer Street near where the shooting took place.

9:54 p.m. | Mayor Smiley reiterates what Brown officials said earlier about the security of the building: it was unlocked for final exams, but some of the rooms inside still required badge access.

President Paxson says she was on a plane to D.C. when this occurred.

9:53 p.m. | The Boston Globe’s Steph Machado asks if they believe the shooter is still in the area. “We don’t know,” the mayor replies.

9:52 p.m. | A Providence Place spokesperson confirms the mall is closed due to the shooting, including the parking garage (for new vehicles), though most tenants had already closed when the decision was made.

9:47 p.m. | Brown President Christina Paxson says all 10 victims that were initially identified are students at Brown. She is unclear about the status of the 11th victim with non-life threatening injuries identified for the first time in this briefing.

9:45 p.m. | Providence Police Commander Timothy O’Hara says the video that will be released shows the suspect walking on Hope Street toward Waterman Street, toward the water. He is wearing dark clothing and his face cannot be seen. Witnesses say he may have been wearing a mask but that is unconfirmed. It’s unclear if the there is video depicting him from inside.

9:41 p.m. | Gov. Dan McKee says he received a phone call a short time ago from President Trump expressing support. The governor and Mayor Smiley also had a call earlier with FBI Director Kash Patel, he said.

9:39 p.m. | The scale of the law enforcement response: Mayor Smiley says there are over 400 officers responding. He says more officers are being seen at other places but should know those are there as a precaution.

“We have no reason to believe there are any additional threats at this time,” says the mayor.

He reiterates that tips should be called into the police hotline at 401-272-3121.

9:38 p.m. | Mayor Smiley announces an additional victim, a ninth, who has non-life threatening injuries from fragments after being near.

The suspect is still at large. Shelter in place remains in effect for Brown and surrounding neighborhoods.

A brief video with an image of the suspect will be released shortly.

9:35 p.m. | Officials are arriving for the next briefing. WPRI 12 will carry it live on all screens.

9:30 p.m. | The university has issued yet another update, its ninth alert since 4:22 p.m., but there is little new. “The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place,” it says. “This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus. The law enforcement response remains ongoing. Safety is the utmost and essential priority.”

9:27 p.m. | A Care New England spokesperson tells our Alexandra Leslie that Butler Hospital is on lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” due to the Brown shooting. Butler is the state’s only private psychiatric hospital and is located on the East Side, not far from Brown’s campus.

9:14 p.m. | “There does seem to be some movement now, which appears to be a promising sign,” reports Kim Kalunian, who is near the scene of the shooting on Thayer Street. Hundreds of people are still locked down in the area where she is standing, she says. “It is unclear to me how many people are still hiding inside these empty storefronts,” she says. She can see people in the window of the closed Brown bookstore.

9:07 p.m. | Our meteorologist Catie McNeil sends word that the National Weather Service has expanded its Winter Weather Advisory for tonight to include all of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, adding other complication to the situation as the lockdown and manhunt continue.

9:01 p.m. | Our crews have also been speaking with people witnesses and others in the proximity of where the shooting took place. Here are two of those interviews.

8:59 p.m. | Another sign of how widespread the lockdown’s effects are. A priest in Providence tells our Mike Montecalvo that a wedding was taking place at St. Joseph’s Church, not far from Brown; bride, groom and guests are all still in the church waiting for the lockdown to lift.

8:53 p.m. | The next briefing on the Brown shooting has been moved to 9:30 p.m., officials just told our Kristin Burnell. WPRI 12 will carry it live on air, online and on the free 12+ streaming app.

8:52 p.m. | Our Shiina LoSciuto is at Brown’s Nelson Fitness Center and is seeing buses arrive with students, indicating the facility is being used as some sort of gathering place. University officials have not said exactly what it is being used for. There are so many police surrounding the building that she initially thought it was a police staging area.

Many students are arriving without coats or belongings, Shiina adds.

8:50 p.m. | Anyone with information is being asked to call the Providence police tipline at 401-272-1111.

8:47 p.m. | An employee at the Providence Place mall tells 12 News she received a text message a short time ago informing her the mall was being closed due to the situation at Brown. Those inside are being asked to evacuate.

8:40 p.m. | The FBI is on the ground in Providence, our Corey Welch reports. He saw agents in the area around the scene about a half-hour ago.

8:32 p.m. | The first alert went out at 4:22 p.m., so this situation has now entered its fifth hour unresolved. There is still no word from authorities on a suspect being taken into custody or even identified. We know at least 10 people were shot, two fatally and the others in various conditions at last update. Both Brown and the neighborhoods surrounding its campus remain in lockdown.

8:31 p.m. | The latest alert from Brown University, issued just a few minutes ago: “The Brown campus continues to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus. The law enforcement response remains ongoing. Safety is the utmost and essential priority.”

8:24 p.m. | The next briefing is expected to take place around 9:15 p.m., the mayor’s office tells Kim Kalunian.

8:20 p.m. | A correction: I misheard a comment in the briefing. An official said he “can’t” confirm that the suspect was masked, not that he “can” confirm it.

8:19 p.m. | On air just now, our Tim White recalled as an analogy the manhunt for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers that took place after that attack across neighborhoods around the city. There has still been no word from authorities about a suspect being apprehended.

8:14 p.m. | Our Kim Kalunian is live on Thayer Street and reports she just saw a line of RIPTA buses arriving. It appears students are coming out of a building to evacuate onto the buses.

In her first live shot once she arrived on scene, Kim discussed how surreal it was to see Thayer Street locked down and filled with law enforcement vehicles, noting that she had attended high school nearby. Here is her report.

7:57 p.m. | Former R.I. State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell, our 12 News law enforcement analyst, just spoke live with our Kristin Burnell about where the investigation stands. Here is the video of their conversation.

7:49 p.m. | Brown President Christina Paxson has issued her first statement on the shooting just after 7:30. She described the two dead as “community members,” confirming for the first time they were either students or otherwise with Brown. She called it “a deeply tragic day for Brown, our families and our local community.”

“We continue to be in lockdown, and it is imperative that all members of our community remain sheltered in place,” Paxson writes. This means keeping all doors locked and ensuring no movement across campus.”

Paxson, who has led Brown since 2012, also writes: “Whether or not you spend any time in Barus & Holley, I ask all students, faculty and staff to please be in touch directly with your families to let them know you are safe. They are worried about you.”

7:47 p.m. | WPRI 12 is in continuous coverage of this shooting at Brown. You can watch on TV, on our free 12+ streaming TV app, or in the video player at the top of this story.

7:44 p.m. | Brown Health, owner of Rhode Island Hospital, has released its first update on the victims. As of 7:20 p.m., of the eight victims transported to the hospital, six were in critical but stable condition; one was in critical condition; one was in stable condition.

Rhode Island Hospital is the region’s only Level 1 trauma center. The hospital is currently on lockdown.

7:42 p.m. | Never mind once again on the family reunification center location. Just spoke to Mayor Smiley’s office, which says Nelson Fitness Center is no longer definitely going to be the place. The fact that the search is ongoing is complicating decisions about where to send people. Our Tim White just said on air the fact that the center keeps changing is a sign of how cautious authorities are being.

7:32 p.m. | Here is full video of the entire news conference city and other officials held in the last hour. Another briefing is expected later tonight.

7:29 p.m. | After conflicting information earlier, the mayor’s office confirms all parties involved have agreed that the family reunification center will be Brown’s Nelson Fitness Center at 225 Hope St.

7:26 p.m. | The shooting at Brown is garnering attention around the country and across the globe. A growing list of governors and other leaders are sending condolences to those affected.

7:23 p.m. | FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social media: “FBI personnel are on the scene and assisting this evening after the shooting at Brown University and we will provide all capabilities necessary. Please pray for all those involved. We will update with more information as we are able.”

7:20 p.m. | We are starting to hear updates from witnesses. Noah, a student at Brown, told our photographer Corey Welch he was on Thayer Street in a restaurant during the shooting. The area was busy when the shooting happened, he said. He was trying to figure out where to go next because the campus has been on lockdown.

7:10 p.m. | Here is video of President Trump’s brief remarks on the shooting at Brown.

7:14 p.m. | Officials are expected to hold another briefing later this evening.

7:06 p.m. | The briefing has now concluded. The biggest headline was Mayor Smiley confirming two dead and at least eight injured, currently in critical but stable condition.

The shooting took place at Brown’s engineering building as final exams were taking place, Brown’s provost said. The shooter was a man dressed in black, authorities said. He was seen leaving Brown’s engineering building on the Hope Street side on foot and still has not been located, they said. No weapon has been located, they said.

It is possible the number of victims may change as the investigation continues. Gov. Dan McKee joined Mayor Smiley and other officials at the briefing, and said that “the unthinkable has happened” in Rhode Island.

7:03 p.m. | President Trump briefly spoke to reporters about the shooting at Brown at the White House after Marine One touched down at 6:26 p.m., according to a pool report by The Washington Post’s Emily Davies, who is a Brown graduate. “What a terrible thing it is,” he said. “All we can do right now is pray for the victims.” He said the victims were “very badly hurt.”

6:58 p.m. | Providence Police Commander Timothy O’Hara urges residents who live in the vicinity of the shooting to check their home security cameras for any footage that could help the investigation.

6:57 p.m. | Here is a video of some of Mayor Smiley’s remarks at the briefing.

6:53 p.m. | Mayor Smiley helps clarify some of the conflicting information earlier in the evening — authorities detained a person they thought might have been involved, but that individual was later released.

6:51 p.m. | The shooter was a male dressed in all black, authorities say. No image of him is available at this time.

6:48 p.m. | The last time the gunman was seen was when he left Brown’s engineering building on Hope Street side during the 4 o’clock hour, police say.

6:46 p.m. | Mayor Smiley says no further details about the victims can be shared at this time. More information will come later this evening.

6:42 p.m. | Officials at the briefing are repeatedly emphasizing that the shelter in place is still active and people at Brown or who live nearby should remain inside as they continue investigating. No suspect under arrest as of this moment.

6:40 p.m. | We continue to receive conflicting information from different authorities about the family reunification site. We will update once it is clear.

6:36 p.m. | Mayor Smiley has begun the briefing, saying it was a day Rhode Islanders had “prayed would never come.” He confirms two people are dead. Eight people are in critical but stable condition at Rhode Island Hospital. “These numbers may change,” mayor says. No shooter in custody. Shelter in place still in effect around Brown. Few details available yet.

6:31 p.m. | Tonight’s Boston Pops performance at PPAC will go on as scheduled, CEO Lynn Singleton tells 12 News. “Additional uniform police and security are already in place,” he says.

6:28 p.m. | The briefing by Providence officials scheduled for 6:15 p.m. has not yet begun, but a City Hall official tells me they are working to start it as soon as possible. 12 News will carry it live.

Live updates above. A full web story that was published as of 6:25 p.m. is below.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — At least one gunman shot multiple people at Brown University on Saturday afternoon, triggering a massive police response and an ongoing search for the shooter.

The Associated Press, citing a source, said two people were dead.

“We are very sorry to share that we have confirmed reports of multiple shooting victims, but we are not able to share their condition,” Brown said in a statement at 6:05 p.m. “They have been transported to local hospitals.” The situation was described as still ongoing.

“We are working immediately to determine who was in the building at the time of the shooting,” the statement said. “We had multiple exams scheduled in that building from 2 pm to 5 pm. We can confirm that support services are on site.”

Target 12 confirmed that law enforcement personnel had been moving from building to building in a search for suspects.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s office has scheduled a briefing at 6:15 p.m. with other officials to share details. President Trump said he had been briefed.

12 News crews on scene witnessed clothing and blood on the sidewalk as police and ambulances swarmed the heart of Brown’s campus on Thayer Street and its surrounding neighborhood. The FBI has joined the investigation.

Brown issued its first alert at 4:22 p.m., urging individuals to stay away from the area near Barus & Holley Engineering, located at 184 Hope St.

At 5:27 p.m., more than an hour after an active shooter was first reported, Brown authorities said they had received a report of shots fired near Governor Street.

After earlier suggesting one suspect had been apprehended, Brown officials reported at 5:11 p.m. that no one was in custody and a search for suspects was continuing. School authorities also later took back a report of shots fired

The initial alert said: “Lock doors, silence phones and stay stay hidden until further notice. Remember: RUN, if you are in the affected location, evacuate safely if you can; HIDE, if evacuation is not possible, take cover; FIGHT, as a last resort, take action to protect yourself. Stay tuned for further safety information.”

Gov. Dan McKee confirmed state officials were monitoring the situation as of 5:31 p.m., writing on social media, “Praying for our community.”

This is a breaking news story and will be continuously updated. Refresh for the latest.

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Tragic Shooting at Brown University: Live Updates on Casualties and Campus Impact

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